A classroom/laboratory activity to understand the carbon cycle, and to explore how human activities may affect the natural carbon cycle.
Students will run a simulation to explore how an increase in fossil fuel use will affect the natural carbon cycle, and will discuss the possible impacts on flora and fauna.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Which components in the carbon cycle act as carbon sinks?
What are the possible impacts of deforestation on the natural carbon cycle? How might these changes affect the Earth’s climate?
Two E-learning courses (MOOCs) developed by Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune on Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy and Teaching Climate Change. These courses were developed through the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.
The courses include lectures on the current understanding of climate science and climate change, societal impacts of climate change, climate change policies and governance, and impacts of climate change. Additionally, the course includes lectures on how teachers of all disciplines can incorporate climate change in their everyday teaching.
The online course video playlist includes:
Introduction to Climate Science (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Archives, Climate Data, and Climate Models (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Change: Past Records: Climate Change on Tectonic Timescales, Orbital Timescales, Glacial/Deglacial Timescales, Millennial Timescales, Historical Timescales (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Modern Climate Change: Global Warming since the Industrial Revolution (Raghu Murtugudde)
Future Projections of Climate Change (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Mitigation and Adaptation (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland and Malti Goel, Climate Change Research Institute)
Climate Change and Society: Culture, Politics, Social Dynamics (D. Parthasarathy, IIT Bombay)
Climate Change Policy and Governance: Global Negotiations and Domestic Policy Making (Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research)
Climate Change: Impacts in India (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Change and Impacts on
The Indian Monsoon (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Water Resources (Pradeep Mujumdar, IISc Bengaluru)
Biodiversity and Ecology (Deepak Barua, IISER Pune)
The Himalayan Glaciers (Argha Banerjee, IISER Pune)
Teaching Resources and Pedagogical Tools (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Chemistry Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Biology Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Physics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Math and Statistics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Economics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Environmental Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Geography Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Social Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
About the Tool
Tool Name
Climate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
E-learning Course
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Rahul Chopra (TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) for the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
Hosted at
IISER Pune Science Media Center YouTube Channel
Link
Course 1: Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy:- Link Course 2: Climate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines:- Link
A teaching module of resources and activities that accompanies ‘The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to Climate Change’
edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This teaching module includes videos and classroom/laboratory activities on the following topics
Climate Science
Energy and Atmosphere
Infrared energy
Infrared absorption by carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide and temperature
Box Model: steady state vs. non-steady state behavior
Heat capacity
Thermal expansion of water
Carbon Cycle
Diurnal variations in carbon dioxide
How many molecules make a trace gas?
NOAA Mauna Loa data and rate of CO2 increase
Respiration
Hydrologic Cycle
Rainfall and river response
Climate Change Mitigation
Renewable Energy
Solar energy
Near-surface geothermal energy
Wind energy
Carbon Sequestration
Afforestation and Reforestation: tree biomass & carbon dioxide storage
Communication and Advocacy
Citizen science
About the Tool
Tool Name
Teach Climate Science The Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
Teaching Module
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
A set of hands-on laboratory activities that uses the pH scale to understand the changes in ocean chemistry due to increased carbon dioxide emissions. This module shows that increased ocean acidification has adverse effects on marine organisms.
A reading titled ‘The Teacher Friendly Guide to Climate Change’ edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This book includes the following chapters
Why Teach About Climate Change? by Don Duggan-Haas
Why Teaching About Climate Change Matters
Science Learning, Its Application, and Politics
We All Have Biases
Systems and Scales
Love and Beauty Will Persist
Resources
What Should Everyone Understand About Climate Change and Energy? by Don Duggan-Haas
What Do You Think?
Collecting Expert Opinions
Consensus Documents
Striving for a Coherent Conceptual Framework
Resources
What is Climate? by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
Climate is a System
Measuring Climate
Greenhouse Gases and Global Temperature
Natural Causes of Climate Change
Summary
Resources
Climate Change Through Earth History by Robert M. Ross and Others
Why Past Climate Change Matters
Observing Climate Through Time in the Rock Record
History of the Earth’s Climate
Climate Analogs and Models
Resources
Evidence For and Causes of Recent Climate Change by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
Changing Temperatures and Carbon Dioxide
Shrinking Ice Sheets and Glaciers
Changing Sea Ice Extent
Thawing Permafrost
Rising Sea Level
Causes of Recent Climate Change
What are the Likely Effects of Climate Change Going to Be?
Resources
6. US Regional Climates, Current and Future by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Benjamin Brown-Steiner
Describing Climates
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
South Central
Northwest Central
Southwest
West
Hawaii
Alaska
Resources
Climate Change Mitigation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
What is Mitigation?
Mitigation Strategies
Summary
Resources
Geoengineering by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
Counteracting Climate Change
Examples of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Techniques
Examples of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) Techniques
Geoengineering Choices
Resources
Climate Change Adaptation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
How Much Does Adaptation Cost?
Types of Adaptation Strategies
Adatation to Different Climate Hazards
Equity and Social Justice Considerations
Resources
Obstacles to Addressing Climate Change by Don Duggan-Haas
Controversial Issues and Complex Systems
Creating Meaningful Dialog
Factors That Influence How We think
How Do People Change Their Minds?
How Can We Envision New Systems?
Resources
Perspective by Don Duggan-Haas
Apocalyptic Tales of Climate Change
Use of Language and Perspective in Teaching Climate Change
Hope and Optimism
Apocalyptic Prophesies Versus Predictions of Climate Change
Reality Check: A Personal Perspective
Science Teaching Toward a Sustainable World
Resources
About the Tool
Tool Name
The Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
Reading
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the atmosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
What is the atmosphere?
What makes up the atmosphere?
How do humans affect the atmosphere?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the atmosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the atmosphere?
Discuss climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the cryosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
What is the cryosphere?
How does the cryosphere change?
Human interactions with the cryosphere
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the cryosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the cryosphere?
Discuss climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
A music album titled ‘The Rap Guide To Climate Chaos’ by Baba Brinkman that contains 24 tracks on climate change. The album discusses the science, politics and economics of climate change. The tracks cover a variety of topics such as greenhouse gases, carbon emissions, climate taxes and green capitalism.
Tracks include – Options, I.P.C.C., Keep It Positive, Greenhouse (feat. Aaron Nazrul), Party Don’t Stop, Run the Joules, Mo Carbon Mo Problems, What’s Beef (feat. Bill Nye), Battle Lines, Lost in the Numbers, Bright Side, Fossil Fuel Ballers (feat. Aaron Nazrul), Exxon Knew, Laudato Si, Yank the Plug, Make It Hot, Regulators, Carbon Bubble (feat. Mariella), Stranded Assets, Ride Electric (feat. Fand), This or That, Freedom Ain’t Free, Stand Up, Makin’ Waves (feat. Gaia’s Eye)
In songs such as ‘IPCC’, Brinkman addresses the findings of the committee and even internal disagreements on projections. On songs such as ‘Greenhouse’, he takes the listener through a sonic journey of development including the greenhouse effect, predicted rise in global temperatures from Svante’s study and puts them alongside the findings of the IPCC and its accuracy. He critiques his own consumption and the paradox of being unable to individually contribute to reducing the impact of climate change without large scale policy reforms. Brinkman speaks extensively about cap and trade vs climate taxes, and the ecological debt that richer countries owe the marginalized. The album also focuses on Exxon’s failures and lies.
Note that the album is available for purchase at the link above.
The tracks are available for free viewing on YouTube as part of Baba Brinkman’s performance for ‘Talks At Google’. This free resource can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1ZH6R3Idb4&t=759s
Students will learn about the topic of climate change through music and learn about its current impacts. They will also learn about the important stakeholders in climate change politics and how climate change politics plays a huge role in the development of the global economy. Students will further learn about how music can be used to discuss science based topics in order to better understand them.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is climate change? Discuss the various perceptions of climate change
Discuss climate change topics and the politics underlying the problem
What is the role of fossil fuel burning in the warming of the planet?
What is green capitalism?
About the tool
Tool Name
The Rap Guide To Climate Chaos
Discipline
Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change, Music, Rap, Hip-Hop
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change, Climate and the Anthrosphere, Energy, Economics and Climate Change
A video microlecture titled ‘Social Sciences Perspectives of the Earth System’ by Raghu Murtugudde of the Murtugudde Climate Academy. This microlecture is a part of a larger series of climate change videos by Murtugudde and discusses the role of Social Sciences in understanding the Earth System. It includes discussions on societal forces, pressures, changes in the environment, impacts on society, environmental degradation and human well-being through the DPSIR framework. The video also discusses concepts like ‘The Resilience Cycle’ and ‘The Panarchy Model’ to explain the relation between society and the environment.
Students will understand the role of the Social Sciences in understanding the Earth System. They will also learn about the link between socio-ecological systems when addressing climate change.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the link between society and the environment?
Discuss the DPSIR framework.
How does the Panarchy Model explain the link between society, the environment and climate change?
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the hydrosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
What is the hydrosphere?
The variable hydrosphere
How is the hydrosphere changing?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the hydrosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the hydrosphere?
Discuss climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
An article by Amy J. Hawkins and Louisa A. Stark titled ‘Bringing Climate Change into the Life Science Classroom: Essentials, Impacts on Life, and Addressing Misconceptions’ in the American Society for Cell Biology journal Life Sciences Education. This reading discusses how climate change can be taught in the Life Sciences classroom. It provides an overview of educational resources that teachers in the Biological Sciences and Life Sciences could use to teach topics in their discipline that are linked to climate change.
Students will understand the link between climate change and the Life Sciences. They will also learn about impacts of climate change on the biosphere and its role in the Earth’s climate system.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
How can climate change be taught in the Life Sciences?
What are the impacts of climate change on the biosphere?
About the Tool
Tool Name
Bringing Climate Change into the Life Science Classroom: Essentials, Impacts on Life, and Addressing Misconceptions
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the lithosphere or geosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the geosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
What is the Geosphere?
How does the geosphere interact in the earth system?
How do humans interact with the geosphere?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the geosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the lithosphere or geosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the lithosphere or geosphere?
Discuss climate change and the role of the lithosphere.
A microlecture that describes the photoelectric effect and how it works with respect to greenhouse gases. This video by Shohini Ghose for TEDxVictoria describes how light and matter possess energy and how the transfer of this energy occurs between different bodies.
Students will learn briefly about the discovery of the photoelectric effect and its relevance to quantum physics. They will further be introduced to various technologies, such as solar cells, which utilize this phenomenon and how they may help combat global warming.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Describe the photoelectric effect.
Describe the greenhouse effect.
Discuss the various technologies discussed in the video that utilize the photoelectric effect that may help combat global warming.
About the tool
Tool Name
How Quantum Physics Can Help Us Fight Climate Change
Discipline
Physics, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Quantum Physics, Photoelectric Effect, Photons, Wavelengths of Light, Visible Light, Infrared Radiation, Greenhouse Effect, Solar Cells, Quantum Entanglement
Climate Topic
Climate and the Atmosphere; Energy, Economics and Climate Change; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation
An article published by Yale Climate Connections on resources for teaching climate fiction. The article features Elizabeth Rush, a climate fiction educator at Brown University, who discusses the ways in which climate fiction can create a relationship between humans, their environment and technology. The article provides educators a list of climate fiction novels and short stories. Cli-Fi resources reviewed in the article include ‘The Tamarisk Hunter’ by Paolo Bacigalupi, ‘Gold, Fame, Citrus’ by Claire Vaye Watkins, ‘Monstro’ by Junot Díaz, ‘New York 2140’ by Kim Stanley Robinson, and ‘10:04’ by Ben Lerner.
Through the Cli-Fi books listed, students will learn about climate change and the importance of Cli-Fi.
Use this tool and the resources listed therein to help your students find answers to:
How does climate fiction link society, climate change and technology?
How can cli-fi provide solutions to mitigate climate change?
About the Tool
Tool Name
What’s on your climate fiction syllabus?
Discipline
Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Fiction, Cli-Fi, Literature
Climate Topic
Climate and Society
Type of tool
Reading
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Yale Climate Connections with Elizabeth Rush, Brown University
A reading by the Third Pole that discusses the link between climate change and natural disasters. This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and disasters and hazards. The reading focuses on discussions on climate change related disasters in South Asia. It covers topics such as cyclones, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), forest fires, droughts in South Asia. It further discusses the difference between ‘slow’ and ‘fast’ natural disasters.
Students will understand how natural disasters and climate change are related. They will further learn about how climate change is causing natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), forest fires, droughts in South Asia.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Discuss the link between climate change and natural disasters.
Discuss the trend of climate-related disasters from 1900 to 2009.
A visualization and associated activity to explain how Planck’s Law can be used to plot blackbody curves of objects with different temperatures, the relationship between temperature and peak wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum, and the greenhouse effect of Earth’s atmosphere.
An audio resource that contains 21 poems on climate change. Compiled by UK poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, the resource provides audio files on themes of climate change by renowned poets, narrated by celebrities. The resource includes the following poems read by different celebrities:
James Franco reads ‘Causeway’ by Matthew Hollis
Jeremy Irons reads ‘Storm’ by Michael Longley
Ruth Wilson reads ‘Vertigo’ by Alice Oswald
Gabriel Byrne reads ‘Zoological Positivism Blues’ by Paul Muldoon
Michael Sheen reads ‘Scratching for Metaphor in the Somerset Coalfields’ by Sean Borodale
Kelly Macdonald reads ‘Extinction’ by Jackie Kay
Maxine Peake reads ‘A Mancunian Taxi-driver Foresees His Death’ by Michael Symmons Roberts
Tamsin Greig reads ‘Last Snowman’ by Simon Armitage
Iain Glen reads ‘Nostalgia’ by Don Paterson
Iwan Rheon reads ‘Cantre’r Gwaelod*’ by Gillian Clarke
James Franco reads ‘Still like with Sea Pinks and High Tide’ by Maura Dooley
Jeremy Irons reads ‘Turbines in January’ by Colette Bryce
Ruth Wilson reads ‘Silent Sea’ by Rachael Boast
Gabriel Byrne reads ‘The Solace of Artemis’ by Paula Meehan
Michael Sheen reads ‘The Rhinoceros’ by Robert Minhinnick
Kelly Macdonald reads ‘X’ by Imtiaz Dharkar
Maxine Peake reads ‘Doggerland’ by Jo Bell
Tamsin Greig reads ‘A Language of Change’ by David Sergeant
Iain Glen reads ‘California Dreaming’ by Lachlan McKinnon
Gabriel Byrne reads ‘Late Sentinels’ by Peter Fallon
James Franco reads ‘I was Born into a World’ by James Franco
Both audio mp3 and text versions of the poems are available on the website
Students will learn about climate change through the use of poetry. They will also understand the techniques involved in writing and analysing poetry.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
An article titled ‘Climate Change in the Social Studies Classroom: A “Why” and “How to” Guide Using the C3 Framework’ by Lori M Kumler and Bethany Vosburg-Bluem published in the journal Social Education of the National Council for the Social Studies. This reading uses the C3 framework to discuss how climate change can be taught in Social Studies classrooms. It includes discussions on the following four dimensions of pedagogy applied to the disciplines of Civics, Economics, Geography, and History:
Dimension 1: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries
Dimension 2: Applying Disciplinary Tools and Concepts
Dimension 3: Evaluating Sources and Using Evidence
Dimension 4: Communicating Conclusions and Taking Informed Action
Students will understand the importance of the social dimensions of climate change and the importance of the social studies in understanding climate change and its impacts.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the role of the social sciences in understanding climate change?
What are some social, economic, and political consequences of climate change?
Discuss how climate change responsibility can be addressed.
About the Tool
Tool Name
Climate Change in the Social Studies Classroom: A “Why” and “How to” Guide Using the C3 Framework
Discipline
Social Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Climate Literacy
Type of tool
Reading
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Lori M Kumler and Bethany Vosburg-Bluem
Hosted at
Social Education, National Council for the Social Studies
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
